Standardized Patients

C3NY maintains a diverse cadre of intelligent professionals who can portray anything from a 16 year old runaway, to a 45 year old man with adult onset diabetes, to a 77 year old with Alzheimer’s. They are capable of simulating not just a patient, but anyone involved in an encounter, be it doctor, nurse, therapist, administrator or family member.

We recruit standardized patients (SPs) from a large and talented pool of individuals in the tri-state area, most of whom have Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degrees, either in education, medicine, or the arts.

The vast majority of the SPs have eight to fifteen years experience as SPs in various medical education settings. In addition a good number have extensive experience in similar programs, i.e. programs utilizing simulated encounters either in medicine, nursing, law or finance.

SPs are individually recruited for each program and case.

As appropriate, SPs may:

Portray a case study (i.e., 42 year old single mother, 75 year old nursing home resident, etc.)

Portray a family member, medical team member, or anyone involved in the encounter

Realistically simulate a particular pain or ailment

Know the difference between proper and improper physical examination maneuvers

Evaluate history taking skills

Evaluate physical examination skills

Evaluate communication skills

Give constructive oral and/or written feedback

Perform a standardized scenario, give standardized responses

Educate learners on the finer points of excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Evaluate learners in a more formal performance based assessment

Presently we maintain an active database of 250+ SPs, drawn from a more comprehensive and diverse database of 1600 SPs of varying sizes, ages, ethnicities and talents.

We also have the expertise to create cases, depending on the needs of our constituent programs. We work with our partners to create the necessary biographical sketches, scenarios, history, physical and communications skills checklists, and then recruit the appropriate people to embody these cases.

In addition to the standard physical cases, such as cholecystitis, migraine headache, lupus, adult onset diabetes, etc., we also develop cases in psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and the like.

The use of standardized patients in the field of medical education has risen exponentially in the past decade. The emphasis has shifted from a knowledge based curriculum to a clinical skills based curriculum. With the USMLE Step 2 CS examination, the field of standardized patients has really come into its own. The sky’s the limit for the use of standardized patients as professional medical educators.

Testimonials

Dear Dr. Swartz and Anna,

First thank you so much for helping me pass the Step 2-CS exam. Your workshop is not just for passing an exam, it also is one of the best medical education program that I have ever had.

It specifically helped me in the following ways:

1) finding my weakness which I couldn’t notice by myself
2) building up my confidence to approach patients
3) learned a lot from Dr. Swartz and from other participants as well
4) the last day of standardized patient cases was extremely helpful. The real exam cases were, however, much easier compared to your cases. But that’s what you told us.

Overall, the C3NY Workshops were an unforgettable experience for me, and I would recommend your workshop to any of my friends who will take Step 2-CS.

Thanks again and best wishes

Jianghong Yu, M.D.China

Dear Dr. Swartz and Anna,

I’ve just received my results, and I passed Step 2-CS.

The workshops were a very intensive 3 day program where I learned how to interview and examine a patient in 15 minutes. It was very focused learning. I have been able to practice it when I see my real patients in real life. It works. Thanks for all your help. I feel I am a better doctor already.

Warm regards

Anoop Jalota, M.D.India

Dear Dr. Swartz and Miss Anna!

Last week I received my Overall pass step 2CS letter and ECFMG Certificate!

It took 9 weeks, but finally I can breathe with relief. As you may remember I failed on my first attempt in the Data Gathering component. So I’ve tried to repeat and master everything I used on my first attempt, but I needed to avoid the same mistakes, and now I can say for sure!nothing is better than Dr. Swartz’s approach to understand the exam mechanics, secrets, and to obtain that inner feeling of self trust.

I know that in the universe of FMGs a small part takes the C3NY workshop. The experience of the workshops is invaluable not only for exam taking, but for the entire professional life and it is worth much more than the workshop fee.

I’d like to send special thanks to our SP Charles who patiently took part in workshop during 2 days, and I thank every SP on the third day for the incredible learning experience they provided.

Igor Ianov, M.D.Brazil

Dear Dr. Mark Swartz, Anna Lank and the entire team of C3NY,

I just received my passing mark for the clinical skills exam !

I enjoyed your course tremendously and think it is a critical course that should be embedded in every medical teaching center curriculum. Your standardized patients were amazing. Although I received rigorous training and clinical experience in a variety of settings, I gained a lot from this course. I give your course my highest recommendation.

Thank you so much for your time, effort, and patience.

Yitzhak Rosen, M.D.Israel

Dear Dr. Swartz,

Thank you for helping me pass the Step 2-CS test. I took your workshops in April and took the exam in Phili on May 22. Learned today that I passed.

The most important thing I have learned from your workshops is that I know how to interact with patients confidently. There are other things I learned that will benefit me in my future career.

Thanks again.

Bingzhong Chen, M.D.China

To my C3NY Family,

Greetings! I am one of your students from the 4/12 course for the Step 2CS. A few days ago, I received the result of my examination, which I took in Atlanta last 5/16.

I am thrilled to update you, that I successfully passed the Step 2CS exam on my first try. More than that, I want you to know that whatever I have learned from you with the guidance of Dr. Swartz’ books (which I already purchased), will be my reliable compass as I practice medicine.

Thank you all…To Dr. Swartz, who is a brilliant doctor and professor; to Miss Lank, for efficiently coordinating the course; and to the very effective performances of all the standardized patients.

Just so you know, my study partner who introduced me to C3NY, successfully passed as well.

Kudos to C3NY and Many Thanks!!!

AME, MDPhilippines

Dear Dr. Swartz and Ms. Lank,

Thanks to your efforts and the highly efficient workshop. I PASSED the step 2CS exam! Your workshop was one of those classes that I shall remember as a remarkable one.

I’d like to appreciate your wonderful workshop that has definitely helped me, and those whom I practiced with, understand better what’s really being tested in the Step 2CS exam; where to pay more attention and what to avoid; how the SP is evaluating us; and how to develop a strategy that leads to successful communication not just in this exam , but for our personal and profession life in the US.

C3NY has blessed me with a better understanding of the art of medicine, thank you, and I’m proud to tell you all my study partners also successfully passed the Step 2CS. It’s important to practice the major cases.

I have told my friends about your course as a guide for preparation and especially on the day of the exam I remembered your and Anna’s advice. The interaction with the Standardized Patients at the workshop was a great opportunity for me. As an IMG, I had some difficulties that could only be discovered by the personal attention that is given to each and everyone of the students on the third day of your program. The day before the last day, we could practice with each other, and it was also a very special day also of the workshop. We had study groups to practice with before taking the test, which I found to be a very useful means for consolidating the skills we had learned in the workshop. As a result, one of my best friends is planning to attend your workshop this summer.

Once again thank you.

A.A.V., M.D.Ecuador

Dear Dr. Swartz and Ms. Lank!

I took my exam on July 26, and felt pretty terrible afterwords.

Thanks to you, I knew damn well what I had to do, and how. But, as Dr. emphasized, this is not a perfection they’re looking for. For me it was hard to believe, but I’ve realized this when received my report two days ago – and it says – PASS!!!

I’m so happy, and grateful to you. You’re doing an exellent job, helping IMGs like me to get through this ordeal. Please pass my very special thanks to Charles and the other SPs; their feedback was invaluable.

I wish you all the best.

Yuliya Perch, M.D.Russia

Hello Dr. Swartz,

Yesterday I got the letter that I had passed the test. Praise the Lord! I sure am grateful. The course helped a lot and was helpful and interesting in other ways, too.

Coming from the background of having practiced quite some years and, in spite, having failed the test once, I realized I really needed help. I needed help in understanding the exam, what they were looking for, what issues were critical and also getting feedback on my ways of doing things. In addition, the fact that I have worked in a specialty setting (Neuro-oncology) with a totally different tempo, it created a need for advice. I was also aware, that when in a book it is suggested to show compassion, I do not necessarily know how to do it culturally properly.

The course was realistic, positive and hard work in a very stimulating environment. A truly unique spirit was present; all questions were answered, and you never seemed to be in a hurry. I learned to understand the setting of the test and some of the backgrounds. I learned a lot of how to analyze relating to patients and how to do it in practice. There was attention to both small details and to the big picture. The practices were most helpful, likewise the meeting with the standardized patients.

I would have no hesitation to recommend the course. Particularly for colleagues who have not practiced in the US at all, I think the course is a MUST before taking the test. I personally have benefited not only for passing the test but also for my work here at home and my future work in the US.

With best regards and thank you!

Merja Kallio, M.D.Finland

Hello Dr. Swartz and Ms. Lank,

I am Dr. Miten Amin from the July 2006 Step 2CS workshop. I took CS on 7th August in Chicago, and I am so happy to tell you that I passed.

Same thing happened as you told us. I felt terrible when I got out of exam: I was thinking about what I missed. But fortunately I followed patient’s direction and kept asking question according to his/her response. And I will tell everybody that it really works.